Suffering and fighting the reality of rising fuel prices

As the rising cost of oil and high fuel taxation continues to impact on a range of different areas of life, reporter Darren Devine finds out how those caught at the sharp end of prices are coping with – and adapting to – the issue

As the rising cost of oil and high fuel taxation continues to impact on a range of different areas of life, reporter Darren Devine finds out how those caught at the sharp end of prices are coping with – and adapting to – the issue

The cyclist

Engineer Debbie Phillips and husband John now cycle their eight-mile journey each day into work from Hubberstone, in Milford Haven, to Pembroke Dock.

The pair had previously driven in to work, but wanted to cut down on the costs associated with using a toll bridge at the dock as well as the fuel bill.

Mrs Phillips, 40, said: “The toll bridge is £1.50 a day when you’re going both ways and it gets congested at the bridge and you can find yourself waiting on there for quite a while.

“It can actually be quicker to cycle in.”

The pair, who run their own company Ultratec, say the daily journey keeps them fit and has turned them into cycling enthusiasts – they are both now members of the CTC, the national cyclists’ organisation.

Mrs Phillips added: “We still drive too, but we mainly use the bikes – even in the winter now. We have competitions now to see who can get in faster.

“I used to be a keen runner, but since we started coming into work this way we’ve both got into cycling.”

The motorist

Fifty-five-year-old motorist Richard Jones has attempted to reduce the amount of time he spends on the road for his daily 29-mile commute to work by car sharing. But Richard, from Llandudno, insists his commitment to car sharing stems more from environmental concerns than an attempt to save money.

He said: “People are talking about fuel prices at the moment because they are being hit in the pocket, but they need to start thinking about how they travel instead of moaning about fuel.

“The British are in love with the motor car and totally dependent on it, but we have to adapt.

“I’m more interested in the wider environmental issues and I think people need to look at their conscience and consider different options.”

Mr Jones, who works as a Gwynedd Council official in Caernarfon said, as part of the liftshare.com scheme, he must reciprocate and make himself available to other motorists looking to reduce their car journeys.

“I use lift-share and walk home for the last half a mile to my house and it’s actually a nice experience.

“It helps me save a minimum of two car journeys per week.

“I’m saving fuel, I’m saving on using my car and it helps save the planet.”

National Liftshare Day is being held on June 9 to spread the word of sharing.

The rail commuter

Lee Waters switched from driving to using the train from Barry to Cardiff Bay every day after noticing his commute to work was getting ever slower as congestion worsened.

The charity director said: “I used to travel from Barry to Cardiff Bay every day, but I noticed the tailbacks started to get further and further back nearer to home.

“There used to be tailbacks from near Penarth, but by the time I stopped commuting they were starting on the outskirts of Barry and most of the journey was bumper to bumper.”

Mr Waters, 32, uses a fold-up bike to complete the last part of his journey from Cardiff Central to the Bay instead of waiting for a connecting train.

“I wanted to come to work in a more environmentally friendly way so I started to take the train with a fold-up bike.

“My big problem was connecting into the Bay, but with that bike I’m in the office in six minutes.”

He says his daily cycling routine has also had a positive impact on his health.

“I don’t like gyms and I don’t like exercise for the sake of it and the only way I was going to exercise was by building it into my daily routine.

“Now I’ve lost a stone in weight, saved money and I arrive in work feeling refreshed so it’s win, win, win.”

Taxi driver

Cardiff cab driver Jim Hewitt says he and his colleagues have been left in a no-win situation by the rising cost of fuel.

The 55-year-old from Cardiff says his living standards have suffered because of fuel prices but passing them on to his customers could further reduce his income. Since it started going up at its current rate I’m not getting anything like the kind of mileage I used to.

“Whereas before I was putting about £15 per day in the cab now I’m having to pay £22. Taxi fares in Cardiff have been too high for some time and the trade has had a good run.

“Now the Hackney Association is putting in for fare increases but that would make things worse because we’re in the credit crunch.

“I’m losing money compared to how I was doing 12 months to two years ago”